Experimental genital ureaplasmosis in the bull
Waelchli-Suter, R.O.; Doig, P.A.; Ruhnke, H.L.; Palmer, N.C.; Barker, C.A.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 124(6): 273-295
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 7123183 Document Number: 183097
The effect of the injection of a bovine ureaplasma strain into the seminal vesicle was studied in Holstein bulls aged 1-3 years. 5 ml ureaplasma broth culture containing 109 colony forming units, isolated from a field case of bovine granular vulvitis, was injected into the right vesicular gland of 11 bulls, while 10 bulls received 5 ml sterile culture medium alone. Ureaplasmas were recovered before inoculation from the semen of 20 bulls and from the preputial swabs of 18 bulls. The concentration of organisms in semen samples taken after inoculation was 60 times greater in ureaplasma-inoculated bulls than in control bulls. Ureaplasmas were recovered PM from the right vesicular gland of 8 ureaplasma-inoculated bulls, and confirmed by immunofluorescence to be the same strains, while they were not recovered from control bulls. Inflammatory changes were seen in the right vesicular gland of 10 of the 11 bulls, the remaining bull having purely degenerative changes.